Free Blood Lust by T. Lynne Tolles Page A

terrified, in fact, that you are willing to drive away the woman you love to avoid it, perhaps losing her in doing so.
    “My boy, it’s not the same situation, not even close. You and Anton need to put your egos aside and come clean with what really happened, Devon. Maybe Darby should go home temporarily, maybe not, but you shouldn’t let her leave thinking you don’t love her. The fact that you are pushing her away so very hard tells me you love this girl very much. Take some advice from a man who only has his memories to comfort him now in his loneliness; don’t make the biggest mistake of your life. You think the last situation threw you for a loop, son, I don’t think you’ll survive losing Darby.”
    Devon’s shirt began to chime again. Dude, what’s happening? How badly have you screwed things, up? Darby won’t even speak to me now.
    “Wow, no pressure!” Devon whispered to himself.
    “What’s more important to you? Saving your relationship with Darby, or dealing with something that happened ages ago?”
    “Well, when you put it like that, it seems obvious.”
    “It always was, Devon.”
    “Can you pull some strings with the airlines? Don’t let her get on that plane.”
    “I’ll do my best.”
     

     
    What a nightmare this has been , Darby thought through the tears. A terrible nightmare that’s ended her beautiful dream with Devon. I should have slapped him, she thought, the anger in her rising again. Oh, what would that have helped? Okay, so it wouldn’t have hurt him, but he sure would have known how mad he made me. Now I’m fighting with myself. I’m going insane. Maybe I was being childish. Certainly steaming out of the house was a bit over the top. Geez, I don’t even know when the next plane leaves. This is so unlike me. I’m Darby the planner, not Darby the neurotic flake. But he said such awful things…
    “UGHHHHHH!” she said out loud.
    “Are you all right, Miss?”
    “Oh, I’m sorry. Have you ever been so mad or confused that you start arguing with yourself in your head?”
    “No, Miss.”
    “Oh. I guess I am neurotic then.”
    “Yes, Miss, I’m thinking you might be!” the driver said so matter-of-factly in his Indian accent.
    “Thanks. You’ve been very helpful.”
    “Always try to help, Miss.”
    “Yeah, great.”
    “Here we are, Miss. That will be a gazillion dollars.”
    “Ha! A comedian too. Great. Here’s my credit card.”
    “I’m sorry, we do not take credit cards, Miss.”
    “But I specifically asked for a cab that I could use a credit card with.”
    “Gotcha again, Miss. Sign here.”
    “You are a funny, funny guy.”
    “Thank you, Miss, I am always trying to please the customers, Miss.”
    She waved at the nutty cab driver and then realized she was waving at a nutty cab driver. Nobody waves at their cabbie. You don’t see people waving to their cabbies in movies. I am going insane. Dear Lord, I need some sleep.
    She walked into the United terminal and headed for the woman behind the counter.
    “May I help you?” the woman asked.
    “Are there any seats on your last flight to San Francisco?”
    “California? The last flight leaves in fifteen minutes, ma’am. I don’t think you can get through security and get to the gate in time.”
    “Are there any seats on the flight?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then can we try at least?”
    “No.”
    “But if you call the gate and tell them I’m on my way and will be, what, maybe four or five minutes late?”
    “We don’t hold planes for passengers, ma’am.”
    “You do in the movies for the rich people.”
    “Are you rich?”
    “No, but there could be a twenty in it for you.”
    “Yeah, I don’t think that would do it.”
    “Fifty?” She shook her head.
    “Fine. What’s the closest hotel and the first flight out of this Godforsaken place?”
    “That would be the Hyatt across the street and 10:20 with lots and lots of layovers. You should get there in about a week.”
    “Ha! Are you related to the